Linkedin User agreement and what you missed!!

So a lot has been posted and shared about the updated user agreement for Linkedin (LI). Mainly about the use of tools, extensions etc. Reactions have varied from oh well who cares I am going to do what I do. To Oh, know I am not using any tools, or extension (ext) on any place anymore. This post is not about this but I will address it a little. Long story short, if a tool or ext requires permission to access LI or needs you to be signed into LI to work, it is probably not okay. If the tool or ext does not require LI permissions or for you to be signed into LI to work, or does not need the ext to work it is probably ok. Now these are not absolutes, as we all know with regards to LI there are always exceptions and I am probably over simplifying things. Also, remember a lot of these tools can be used on other sites, so should not just be given up on. You know other sites like Facebook with its almost 2 billion users with over 75% using it daily, compared to Li and its 500 million user with only 21% using it daily. Now I am not anti-LI, I think it is a good tool and has its place, so does others though.

Now onto the other thing that came from the new user agreement I found interesting, Fake profiles. It has been estimated at least 20% of the profiles on LI are fake. LI has till now either refused to acknowledge this or said oh well. Well in the new agreement it says “We added that our restriction against creating a false identity on our Services is not waived just because LinkedIn may rarely allow a clearly fictional profiles in connection with a promotional campaign that it has approved. So what it now says with regards to this is “Create a false identity on LinkedIn. The occasional creation of clearly fictional profiles by LinkedIn or with its express permission in connection with a promotional campaign does not waive this obligation;” So long story short is they now not only acknowledge these fake or false profiles but have admitted to allowing it. Hmm What I found most interesting is this statement “The occasional creation of clearly fictional profiles by LinkedIn” By LI so LI is now admitting to creating these false profiles. HMM

So as I said, I think LI is a good tool, not the only tool and not the only site, but a good tool. However the admission of LI to creating false profiles makes one wonder about the supposed 500 million users and the data around those users.